Similarities link home-invasion robbery suspect to prior burglary

OROVILLE — A man suspected of invading and robbing a home Wednesday afternoon in Thermalito was arrested and later linked to a home burglary that happened in late April, authorities said Thursday.

At around 4:25 p.m. Wednesday, Butte County Sheriff's Office received a 9-1-1 call from a woman who reported a man had knocked on her door, entered the residence and stole some things.

She also described the suspect as white and wearing a brown shirt and blue shorts.

Deputies responding to the address saw the suspect take off from the residence on a bicycle, heading east down Euclid Avenue, near 13th Street, and responding officers established a perimeter around the area.

A short time later, authorities located a silver and blue bicycle with a damaged seat near where the suspect was last seen. A backpack was also found.

Deputies then saw a man matching the suspect's description walking south on 12th Street between Feather and Biggs avenues.

The man attempted to run when deputies approached him, but he was caught after a brief altercation with deputies, according to a Sheriff's Office press release.

The suspect was identified as Dean Elden Stuart, 51, of Oroville.

He was arrested and positively identified by the victim of the home invasion, authorities said.

Later, deputies noted similarities between Wednesday's incident and a burglary reported in late April.

On April 28, a married couple arrived at their home in the 1200 block of Grand Avenue and found a man inside.

The suspect allegedly held the couple at gunpoint and continued to rob them, then left the scene on a silver and blue bicycle with a damaged seat, authorities said.

Deputies met with the couple Wednesday, and the two positively identified Stuart as the man who robbed them.

After his arrest, Stuart was taken to an undisclosed hospital and medically cleared before being booked into the Butte County Jail.

He was booked on suspicion of first-degree burglary, robbery, being armed in the commission of a felony, and resisting arrest with force or violence.